The Smurfs (Photo : Twitter/@slashfilm)
Sony Pictures Animation announced on March 25, Wednesday, that "The Smurfs" is returning to the big screen in 2017. The little blue creatures will be seen again by fans in its fully animated version, instead of the blend of live-action and computer-animated version.
Sony Pictures President for worldwide distribution Rory Bruer unleashed his thoughts about the upcoming animated film in The Hollywood Reporter. Bruer said that the film adaptation is going to be in full animation, but close to Peyo's original masterpiece in terms of "tone and design". He also said that Sony will be adopting the elements that the fans loved.
Kelly Asbury is set to helm the upcoming animated film, together with Jordan Kerner and Mary Ellen Bauder as co-producers.
Asbury shared her thoughts on the film in a blog post in Tumblr. She said that they have the opportunity to create "a whole new world", since the new film will have no link to its two predecessors. This will let the director and the crew to unwrap a film that will transport the audience to a new imaginative world. She also said that the film will be released in Spring, an Easter date.
"The Smurfs" is based on a comic book series of the same name, which was authored by the Belgian comics artist Peyo.
The voice cast team for the main Smurfs included Jonathan Winters as Papa Smurf, Katy Perry as Smurfette, Fred Armisen as Brainy Smurf, Alan Cumming as Gutsy Smurf, Anton Yelchin as Clumsy Smurf, and George Lopez as Grouchy Smurf.
The live action actors in the first film included Hank Azaria as Gargamel, Neil Patrick Harris as Patrick Winslow, Jayma Mays as Grace Winslow, Jayma Mays as Grace Winslow, Sofia Vergara as Odile Anjelou, Tim Gunn as Henri, and Paula Pizzi as Odile's mother.
The first film was a blend of 3D live-action and computer animation. "The Smurfs" was first released on July 29, 2011, which has grossed an estimate of $563 million worldwide while "The Smurfs 2" has had an estimated gross of $347 million after its release last July 31, 2013.
Fans have to wait for the announcement on the film's final title, the plot, as well as the voice cast.
The untitled "Smurfs" film is slated to premiere in theaters on March 31, 2017.
